If anyone knows a thing or two about high-speed travel, it’s Santa Claus. So when it comes to the whole globetrotting, breakneck-speed travel game, we’ll forgive you for thinking some things are best left to pros like him. Not that MINI agrees. With a lengthy legacy of snow-taming behin it, MINI is once again limbering up to spread some yuletide goodwill this holiday season.

This weekend, the MINI family begins an epic cross-continental trek from Milan, Italy, to the very edges of the Arctic Circle, in Finland’s Rovaniemi. And the convoy will be taking with it an avalanche-sized delivery of Christmas gift requests from adults and children the world over — so many, in fact, that MINI hopes to break yet another Guinness World Records title by delivering the longest wish list to Santa Claus (that would make three this year.) And with hopefuls from 16 countries across Europe, Asia and North America all putting in their yuletide orders, it sure sounds like Santa will have his work cut out this season.

But don’t worry, Santa. If the reindeer don’t quite make the grade this year, MINI is on hand to help. Three members of the MINI family will be making the voyage: MINI Clubman with its typically generous cargo capacity; MINI Countryman with its excellent off-road skills; and the MINI Hatch, master of the go-kart feeling.

If all that’s not enough, the arriving MINI will be welcomed by a true member of motorsport royalty: Rauno Aaltonen, winner of the legendary 1967 Monte Carlo Rally. He’ll be behind the wheel at Rovaniemi to prove that the best things never change, as he parks his historic Classic Mini and climbs aboard the new MINI Paceman to put it to the test.

Keep up with the ongoing MINI action from the snowy roads on Facebook and Twitter!

Want to start the New Year with some MINI goodies? We’re giving away 10 beautiful MINI Snow Globes, courtesy of MINI Japan. To get your mittens on one, just tell us in the comments section